• Korean Journal of Optics and Photonics
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.23-29
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• 2015

In this paper, we propose a microscope system for detecting both a tumor and blood vessels in brain tumor surgery as fluorescence images by using multiple light sources and a beam-splitter module. The proposed method displays fluorescent images of the tumor and blood vessels on the same display device and also provides accurate information about them to the operator. To acquire a fluorescence image, we utilized 5-ALA (5-aminolevulinic acid) for the tumor and ICG (Indocyanine green) for blood vessels, and we used a beam-splitter module combined with a microscope for simultaneous detection of both. The beam-splitter module showed the best performance at 600 nm for 5-ALA and above 800 nm for ICG. The beam-splitter is flexible to enable diverse objective setups and designed to mount a filter easily, so beam-splitter and filter can be changed as needed, and other fluorescent dyes besides 5-ALA and ICG are available. The fluorescent images of the tumor and the blood vessels can be displayed on the same monitor through the beam-splitter module with a CCD camera. For ICG, a CCD that can detect the near-infrared region is needed. This system provides the acquired fluorescent image to an operator in real time, matching it to the original image through a similarity transform.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.29-43
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• 2015

Objective: The aim of this study is to develop management guidelines and a procedure for an anthropometric suitability assessment of the main control room (MCR) in nuclear power plants (NPPs). Background: The condition of the MCR should be suitable for the work crews in NPPs. The suitability of the MCR depends closely on the anthropometric dimensions and ergonomic factors of the users. In particular, the MCR workspace design in NPPs is important due to the close relationship with operating crews and their work failures. Many documents and criteria have recommended that anthropometry dimensions and their studies are one of the foremost processes of the MCR design in NPPs. If these factors are not properly considered, users can feel burdened about their work and the human errors that might occur. Method: The procedure for the anthropometric suitability assessment consists of 5 phases: 1) selection of the anthropometric suitability evaluation dimensions, 2) establishment of a measurement method according to the evaluation dimensions, 3) establishment of criteria for suitability evaluation dimensions, 4) establishment of rating scale and improvement methods according to the evaluation dimensions, and 5) assessment of the final grade for evaluation dimensions. The management guidelines for an anthropometric suitability assessment were completed using 10 factors: 1) director, 2) subject, 3) evaluation period, 4) measurement method and criteria, 5) selection of equipment, 6) measurement and evaluation, 7) suitability evaluation, 8) data sharing, 9) data storage, and 10) management according to the suitability grade. Results: We propose a set of 17 anthropometric dimensions for the size, cognition/perception action/behavior, and their relationships with human errors regarding the MCR design variables through a case study. The 17 selected dimensions are height, sitting height, eye height from floor, eye height above seat, arm length, functional reach, extended functional reach, radius reach, visual field, peripheral perception, hyperopia/myopia/astigmatism, color blindness, auditory acuity, finger dexterity, hand function, body angle, and manual muscle test. We proposed criteria on these 17 anthropometric dimensions for a suitability evaluation and suggested an improvement method according to the evaluation dimensions. Conclusion: The results of this study can improve the human performance of the crew in an MCR. These management guidelines and a procedure for an anthropometric suitability assessment will be able to prevent human errors due to inadequate anthropometric dimensions. Application: The proposed set of anthropometric dimensions can be integrated into a managerial index for the anthropometric suitability of the operating crews for more careful countermeasures to human errors in NPPs.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics and Information Engineers
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• v.51 no.11
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• pp.221-228
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• 2014

The color and shape of the tongue reflect the physiological and clinico-pathological condition of the body. Recently, various tongue image acquisition devices have been developed for accurate diagnosis based on quantitative and objective tongue features. Since a color information is essential for tongue diagnosis, the performance of an illuminator is very important for the tongue image acquisition device. In this study, we developed an indirect illumination, which is possible to improve a homogeneity of light intensities on the tongue surface, and evaluated its performances. In order to realize the indirect illumination (II), a semi-ellipsoidal solid structure (SESS) for the light reflex was located in the system, and two high-brightness white LEDs were placed for illuminating the areas under frontal camera in the SESS. The tongue surface was illuminated by reflected light from the SESS. The light homogeneity induced by three different illuminations including the II was evaluated by calculating coefficient of variation (CV) of illuminance of five regions. The II showed less than 0.01 of CV and the direct illumination (DI) and the direct illumination with a light diffusion plate (DILDP) showed 0.16 and 0.13, respectively. The reflexed pixel ratios of tongue phantom images show 5.76%, 4.22%, 1.79% for the DI, the DILDP and the II, respectively. The homogeneity of a tongue phantom was evaluated by calculating CV of mean pixel values of six different tongue regions, and showed less than 0.06 in the II. If the II technique apply to tongue diagnosis system, it is expected to improve diagnostic accuracy in clinic.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.58-64
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• 2013

The objective of this study was to understand the physiological response and cadmium accumulation of MuS1 transgenic tobacco exposed to high concentration of Cd in soil. For this, a pot experiment was carried out in a greenhouse for a month, with two lines of MuS1 transgenic tobaccos (S4 and S6) and non-transgenic tobacco cultivated in the soils spiked at three different Cd concentrations (0, 60 and 180 mg $kg^{-1}$). Both transgenic and non-transgenic tobacco showed visible toxic symptoms such as chlorosis and leaf roll as treated concentration increased. The net photosynthetic rates of MuS1 plants (S4 and S6) exposed at 180 mg $kg^{-1}$ Cd were 6.3 and $7.7{\mu}mol\;m^{-2}s^{-1}$, being higher than those of the non-transgenic plant ($4.8{\mu}mol\;m^{-2}s^{-1}$). Values of stomatal conductance of MuS1 transgenic plants (0.05 and 0.008 mmol $H_2O\;m^{-2}s^{-1}$) were also higher than those of non-transgenic plant (0.03 mmol $H_2O\;m^{-2}s^{-1}$). In addition, fresh and dry weights of MuS1 transgenic plants were heavier than those of non-transgenic plant. Likewise, MuS1 transgenic plants appeared to be better physiological performance than non-transgenic tobacco when exposed at high concentration of Cd in soil. With regard to metal accumulation, MuS1 transgenic tobaccos accumulated more Cd in their roots than non-transgenic tobacco implying that MuS1 transgenic tobacco is suggested to be used for phytostabilization of heavy metals.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.441-449
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• 2015

In this paper we perform a linearized buckling analysis using the Kirchhoff plate theory and the von Karman nonlinear strain-displacement relation. Design sensitivity analysis(DSA) expressions for plane elasticity and buckling problems are derived with respect to Young's modulus and thickness. Using the design sensitivity, we can formulate the topology optimization method for minimizing the compliance and maximizing eigenvalues. We develop a topology optimization method applicable to plate buckling problems using the prestress for buckling analysis. Since the prestress is needed to assemble the stress matrix for buckling problem using the von Karman nonlinear strain, we introduced out-of-plane motion. The design variables are parameterized into normalized bulk material densities. The objective functions are the minimum compliance and the maximum eigenvalues and the constraint is the allowable volume. Through several numerical examples, the developed DSA method is verified to yield very accurate sensitivity results compared with the finite difference ones and the topology optimization yields physically meaningful results.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.36-41
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• 2017

Background: Police work is generally sedentary although there may be situations that require physical endurance and strength, such as foot chases and arresting suspects. Factors such as excessive body fat can impede an officer's physical ability to deal with such occurrences. Our objective was to examine associations between officers' body fat percentage (BF%) and performance on a standardized fitness protocol. Methods: Data were obtained from fitness screening among 1,826 male and 115 female officers in a large US police agency. The screening consisted of a 2.4-km run, push-ups, sit-ups, and sit-and-reach test. Sex-specific body fat percentages were estimated from skinfold thickness measured using calipers. Linear regression models were used to examine unadjusted and adjusted mean scores of fitness tests across BF% tertiles. Results: The prevalence of overall fitness was 4.3 times greater in male officers and 3.6 times greater in female officers having the lowest BF% tertile compared with the highest tertile (30.3% vs 7.1% and 46.0% vs 12.8%, respectively). BF% was linearly and positively associated with the time of 2.4-km run (p < 0.001), and linearly and inversely associated with the number of push-ups (p < 0.001), sit-ups (p < 0.001), and the distance of sit-and-reach (p < 0.001) in men. Similar associations were observed in women with the exception of sit-and-reach (p = 0.122). Associations were independent of age, race/ethnicity, rank, and duty station. Conclusion: Overall, BF% was inversely associated with fitness levels in male and female officers. Future longitudinal studies should be initiated to explore the potentially causal relationship between BF% and fitness in law enforcement officers.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.428-435
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• 2015

Constructed wetlands (CWs) have been accepted as an attractive and economic alternative to a variety of pollution control and provided potentially valuable wildlife habitat in urban and suburban areas, as well as esthetic value within the local natural environment. CWs are known eco-friendly technology to solve the problem of the climate change and urbanization issues. Numerous studies have been published on the various aspects of a CW. However, there are current limitations about the CW operations such as few design guidelines, poor performance results regarding the simple construction. Therefore, the objective of this research was to suggest an appropriate design and maintenance guidelines for a CW by thorough investigation of site monitoring results. The research also concentrated in redefining and reclassifying CWs, based on literatures made by the Ministry of Environment (MOE) and other organizations. Investigation at 43 CWs in Korea was performed by using collected data and by performing site survey from 2013 to 2014. Based on the results, the best practices among the investigated CWs provided water treatment, wildlife habitat, environmental education, and leisure. Also these CWs conducted a regular maintenance such as vegetation, sediment dredging and cleaning of facilities. Results obtained are intended for use by academics and any organizations involved in CW management.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.25-35
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• 2014

The objective of this study is to evaluate TOPLATS land surface model performance through comparison of results of water and energy balance analysis. The study area is selected Nakdong river basin and high resolution hydrometeorological components of which spatio-temporal resolution is 1 hr and 1 km are simulated during 2003 to 2013. The simulated daily and monthly depth of flows are well fitted with the observed one on Andong and Hapcheon dam basin. In results of diurnally analysis of energy components, change pattern throughout the day of net radiation, latent heat, sensible heat, and ground heat under energy balance analysis have higher accuracy than ones under water balance analysis at C3 and C4 sites. Especially, root mean square errors of net radiation and latent heat at C4 site are shown very low as 22.18 $W/m^2$ and 7.27 $W/m^2$, respectively. Mean soil moisture and evapotranspiration in summer and winter are simulated as 36.80%, 33.08% and 222.40 mm, 59.95 mm, respectively. From this result, when we need high resolution hydrometeorological components, energy balance analysis is more reasonable than water balance analysis. And this results will be used for monitor and forecast of weather disaster like flood and draught using spatial hydrometeorological information.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.17 no.4 s.88
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• pp.499-504
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• 2005

Polymer concrete shows excellent mechanical properties and chemical resistance compared with conventional normal cement concrete. The polymer concrete Is drawing a strong interest as high-performance materials in the construction industry Resins using recycled PET offer the possibility of a lower source cost of materials for making useful polymer concrete products. Also the recycling of PET in polymer concrete would help solve some of the solid waste problems Posed by plastics and save energy. An objective of this paper is to estimate the damage of sulfuric acid, through investigating recycled PET polymer concrete, immersed at sulfuric acid solution for 84 days. As a result of testing, recycled PET PC, used $CaCO_3$ as filler, makes a problem of appearance and strength if they are exposed for long term at corrosion environment. On the other hand, recycled PET PC, used fly-ash as filler, had less effect on decrease in weight and strength. Recycled PET PC is excellent chemical resistance, resulting in the role of unsaturated polyester resin which consists of polymer chain structure accomplishes bond of aggregates and filler strongly. Also, recycled PET PC, used fly-ash as filler, is stronger resistance of sulfuric acid corrosion than $CaCO_3$, because it is composed of $SiO_2$ and very strong glassy crystal structure. Therefore, recycled PET PC, used fly-ash as filler, is available under corrosion circumstances like sewer pipe or waste disposal plant.

• Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.193-205
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• 2008

Quality is an important keyword representing the corporate competitiveness and image in today' s construction industry. Especially in concrete construction, any problems or defects in fresh concrete can significantly degrade the entire quality and performance of the facility built. Thus, adequate quality inspection and testing must be exercised over the fresh concrete, if concrete with the required strength, durability and appearance is to be obtained. The testing of concrete delivered to the construction job site involves testing of fresh concrete and performing strength tests on hardened concrete. The principal tests conducted on fresh concrete include the slump test and tests for air and salt content. The temperature of fresh concrete should be checked out hot or cold weather concreting. The 7-day and 28-day strength of hardened concrete are also determined by compression tests on usually cylinder samples. However, it is very complex and time-consuming process requiring a lot of efforts to document those on-site concrete testing results and to accumulate their historical data. The primary objective of this study is to suggest a unique PDA and web-based system which enables an on-site quality manager to effectively conduct the concrete inspection and testing, automatically document and accumulate the collected historical data, and promptly obtain the approval from supervisors. Finally, it is anticipated that the effective use of the proposed PDA and web-based system would be able to improve reliability of the concrete quality inspection and testing data as well as significantly reduce the approval process.